If you have a large aquarium and you want to keep your water clean and clear, you know how important it is to have a good protein skimmer. Protein skimmers are devices that remove organic waste from the water, such as fish poop, uneaten food, and algae. They do this by creating tiny bubbles that attract the waste and carry it to a collection cup, where you can easily dispose of it. Protein skimmers are essential for maintaining a healthy and balanced aquarium, especially for saltwater and reef tanks.
But not all protein skimmers are created equal. Some are more powerful and efficient than others, and some have more features and benefits than others. One of the best protein skimmers on the market today is the Bashsea twisted skimmer. This skimmer is designed to provide true power skimming by processing 200% to 300% more water and waste per hour than other needle wheel skimmers of the same size.
And it definitely delivers!
What Made Me Choose the Bashsea Twisted Skimmer?
I have been keeping aquariums for many years, and I have tried many different types of protein skimmers in the past. Some of them were good, some of them were bad, and some of them were just okay. But none of them really impressed me or satisfied me completely. I always felt like something was missing or could be improved.
That’s why I decided to give the Bashsea protein skimmer a try. I had heard a lot of good things about it from other hobbyists and online reviews, and I was curious to see if it lived up to the hype. I also liked the fact that it was made in the USA and that it had a lot of features that other skimmers didn’t have. It looking awesome didn’t hurt either.
I ordered the 8-30 model, THE BIG ONE, which is suitable for aquariums up to 500 gallons, with a flow rate as high as 2600 gph. I have a heavily stocked 200-gallon reef system with the ability and plan to add additional lagoons up to the 500-gallon total volume mark. So I needed a powerful and efficient skimmer to handle the bioload; plus overkill is underrated. The skimmer arrived in a few days, impressively well-packaged and protected. It came fully set up which is always nice, I just had to hook up my pump, and I was off to the races.
*price at time of writing
How Was the Installation Process?
The installation process was very easy and straightforward. Just figure out where you want to put it and plumb the water pump. I decided to install the skimmer outside my sump because, quite frankly, it’s huge. If I had put it in the sump I would have had to raise the aquarium stand a fair amount. But I feel like this was actually a good thing. If I ever need to clean it, empty the waste bucket, or adjust the gate valve I have super easy access to it.
I connected the skimmer to my pump using the included hose barbs and tubing. I used a Sicce Syncra 9.0, which is one of the recommended pumps for this skimmer model. This pump is certainly powerful enough to create tons of tiny bubbles in the skimmer chamber, which is what you want for optimal waste removal.
In retrospect, I should have used my main return pump (Sicce HF16) and a manifold to divert water to the skimmer just to make things more streamlined, and if you have the option and a powerful enough pump, I’d recommend it.
Once the skimmer was setup and water was flowing I had to adjust the gate valve until I found the sweet spot where the thick and dark foam rose to the collection cup. This is hands down one of my favorite things about the skimmer. It was quick and easy to dial in, and I’ve never had to adjust it; I can’t say the same for other skimmers I have which I still have to adjust frequently to keep them running right.
How Did the Skimmer Perform?
The Bashsea twisted skimmer performed amazingly well. It started producing foam right away, and within a few hours, I noticed dark brown, almost black, tar-like gunk filling the collection cup. I wanted a mostly dry skim, which was easy to adjust for and works well for me. Depending on the specific needs of your aquarium you may want a wetter skim. Just play with it and find what works for you.
I was amazed by how much waste it removed from my water in such a short time. The collection cup is easy to remove and clean and has a drain port for convenience. I have mine drain into a 5-gallon bucket so I don’t have to mess with very often, but you can get some prettier options.
The skimmer is a little noisy, but I didn’t expect anything else. It’s how you know it’s working… or so I tell myself. I’ve never had it overflow or stop working, even if the power goes out or the sump water level changes, it picks right back up where it was without adjustment. The beauty of the gate valve system to control the water level! It keeps removing waste from my water day and night, keeping my aquarium clean and healthy.
The skimmer also has some extra features that makes it stand out from other skimmers. Some of them are:
- Its huge reaction chamber holds more water and waste, which means more dwell time and nutrient removal.
- It has a patent pending injection and mixing system that mixes air and water perfectly, creating tons of tiny bubbles that capture the waste. It also let me inject ozone if I wanted to boost my water quality even more.
- It has a laser-cut bubble plate that reduces turbulence and increases efficiency, ensuring the bubbles stay in the chamber longer and don’t escape.
- Its sleek and stylish design comes in three colors: blue-black, red-black, and white-black. I chose the blue-black one, which matched my taste and my aquarium decor.
What Were the Pros and Cons of the Bashsea Protein Skimmer?
The Bashsea protein skimmer had many pros and very few cons. Here are some of them:
Pros:
- Very powerful and efficient, processing more water and waste than other skimmers of the same size.
- Easy to install and maintain, and it came with everything I needed to set it up.
- Very reliable and stable; it’s never overflowed or stopped working.
- It has a lot of features that make it unique and convenient, such as its ability to inject ozone, overflow protection, no adjustment requirement, wide pump range, true O-ring seal, commercial-grade craftsmanship, and stylish design.
- Made in the USA, with great customer service and warranty policy.
Cons:
- More expensive than other skimmers, but it’s well worth it for the quality and performance.
- A little too bulky for more compact applications.
Would I Recommend the Bashsea Protein Skimmer to Other Hobbyists?
Yes yes and yes! I would definitely recommend any of Bashseas protein skimmers to other hobbyists looking for a powerful and efficient skimmer that can handle large volumes of water and waste. The Bashsea twisted skimmer is easily the best protein skimmer I have ever used, and I am very happy with it. It has improved my water quality significantly and made my aquarium maintenance easier and more enjoyable. It’s a bigger investment to be sure, but a great one for your aquarium, and you won’t regret getting it.
You can find more technical information about the Bashsea twisted skimmer on their website. I’d also encourage you to check out their other products, such as their reactors, sumps, media chambers, and frag racks. I have quite a few pieces of their lineup, and they are all right up to the same level as these skimmers.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Or, if you want to share your experience with Bashsea protein skimmers (good or bad), I would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading, and happy skimming!
